Latest news with #Brett
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
An online holiday scam cost one couple $2800. Don't let it happen to you
Don't click on unknown links or share personal details on these links. Do a reverse image search to spot fake accommodation listings. Read reviews and book through known, trusted platforms. Post updates after your trip to avoid attracting scammers. By Sarah Falson Updated July 31 2025 - 12:47pm, first published 12:43pm A woman sits outside a doorway with her hands on her face. Picture: Shutterstock Brett and his wife Sally were planning the European holiday of a lifetime when they made an accommodation booking online that "didn't smell right". Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper All other in your area They had booked a hotel in Italy through a well-known booking website and were messaging the property through the booking platform to ask questions about the location and parking. "They came back and gave us some information, and we went backwards and forwards with them over the course of, you know, 12 hours or 20 hours or something," Brett, who didn't want to share the family's surname, said. Then a little while later a final message came through from the property, something along the lines of: "We hope that we have answered all your questions. By the way, we need you to pay a deposit. Here's a link." The couple, who reside in Brisbane, clicked on the link and paid the deposit, which came to $2803.46. Within 90 minutes, the sum had been deducted from their credit card. It was only then, when they had time to breathe in their busy day, they realised something was a bit off. It was a "man in the middle" cyber attack. Brett suspects the hackers had intercepted the Italian accommodation provider's network and had been watching the interactions between Brett and the hotel, and then had jumped in, impersonating the hotel. The hotel confirmed they hadn't sent the final message, and the booking platform confirmed users would never be asked to pay a deposit using a third-party payment system. The couple's bank was unable to recover the money, leaving them out of pocket. Young Australians at greater risk Airline Emirates alerted members this week it had suspended its social media advertising after identifying fraudulent advertisements circulating on social media platforms. It comes as new research from security provider McAfee found nearly one in five Aussie holidaymakers have fallen victim to a scam while booking a holiday - one in five losing money. Picture: Shutterstock McAfee's Australia Safe Summer Travel research showed younger holidaymakers, aged 18-34 are most at risk, with 30 per cent having been affected by a travel scam. Many have lost money by providing bank details on a fake site and others have clicked on a link from an unknown source that was a scam. Other people have encountered manipulated photos of holiday destinations. McAfee head of APAC, Tyler McGee, said it's more important than ever to stay alert. "If an offer looks too good to be true, it probably is," he said, advising people to take "a moment to double-check before you book". Following are McAfee's tips to avoid getting scammed. Your guide to outsmarting scammers Scam (phishing) emails and text messages, and fake travel deals, can lead to scammers having access to sensitive personal or financial information. Avoid clicking unknown links or sharing personal details. Do a reverse image search to spot fake accommodation listings. Read reviews and book through known, trusted platforms. Picture: Shutterstock Are your destination, scammers may pose as hotel staff or tour guides. Double-check identities before sharing info or valuables. Public Wi-Fi can expose your data. Use a VPN to browse safely while travelling. Sharing your location in real-time can attract scammers at home or on holiday. Post updates after your trip instead. Words by Sarah Falson Sarah is ACM's travel producer. She believes regional travel is just as fun (if not better) than staying in the big cities and loves any travel experience to do with nature, animals and food!.My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me. Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life. My top travel tip is … Don't plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what's within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Brett Anderson confesses performing is about creating the ‘illusion of confidence'
Brett Anderson says performing is about creating the 'illusion' of confidence. The Suede frontman made the admission while speaking backstage to the NME ahead of a secret gig at London's Bush Hall which was used to film a live video to go with the band's new single Dancing With the Europeans. He said: 'Playing live is all about confidence – or the illusion of confidence, which is the same thing. 'People don't want to see a stumbling, apologetic performer – they want to see someone who seems to command a sense of magic.' The 56-year-old singer is fronting the fourth single to be taken from Suede's upcoming tenth album Antidepressants, following the release of the tunes Disintegrate, Trance State and the title track from the record. The London performance, held for a crowd of invited fans, was designed to capture the live energy of the new post-punk material. Brett added before the set: 'Hopefully people will go crazy and there will be a stage invasion, and then we'll go home to bed.' Describing the meaning behind Dancing With The Europeans, the singer went on: 'It's a song about connection. I have this phrase: connecting in a disconnected world. I feel as though the 21st Century is a paradox. The more we're connected, the less we're connected.' The song, he added, was inspired by a performance in Spain during a difficult time in his life. Brett added: 'I was going through a bad time personally, and the gig was just amazing. 'You feel like you're bigger than something that's just yourself – you're part of a group of people.' Asked about the audience reaction at the shoot, Brett said: 'What is it about Suede fans that makes them so insane? I don't know! 'The music is about passion. I've always wanted to inspire passion in people. 'The best live music is always incredibly loud or incredibly quiet – nothing in between. 'That's what I try and do with my music. I either go full-on rock, or I get my acoustic guitar and go off-mic and no one can quite hear what I'm saying. 'I quite like those extremes.'
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Brett McGurk Joins Tidal Partners as Senior Advisor
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tidal Partners is pleased to welcome Brett McGurk as a Senior Advisor to the firm. Brett brings decades of experience in global diplomacy and national security—with a track record forged at the center of some of the most consequential geopolitical events of our time. "The quest for AI leadership has inextricably linked geopolitics and technology. For today's leading companies, this moment presents a rare opportunity to create meaningful value—or risk falling behind," said David Handler, Co-Founder of Tidal Partners. "Brett's deep global and strategic experience enhances Tidal's role in driving outsized outcomes for our clients in today's fast-moving and uncertain environment." "I'm honored to lend my experience to Tidal Partners' distinguished clients as they wrestle with what could be the most significant decision-making of their careers," said Brett McGurk. "This is a transformational, hinge-point moment, with unprecedented risks and opportunities for our country and companies navigating the AI revolution." Brett is a veteran diplomat and national security expert with decades of service across four administrations leading high-stakes, breakthrough negotiations in the most complex geostrategic environments. His distinguished career includes serving as White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa in the Biden Administration where he negotiated two Gaza ceasefires, securing the release of over 100 hostages, organized the defense of Israel against Iranian missile attacks, negotiated the release of American hostages from Iran, and managed highest-level U.S. relations with the Gulf states, including UAE and Saudi Arabia, at the leading edge of the global AI competition. Brett also served as Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS under the Obama and Trump administrations. In that role, he helped to design and lead the diplomatic and military campaign to defeat ISIS through a historic coalition of more than 80 countries that remains in place to this day. In the Obama administration, Brett also led secret negotiations with Iran to secure the release of multiple American hostages, later receiving the James W. Foley Hostage Freedom Award for these efforts. In addition, Brett held senior posts in the George W. Bush administration. As Senior Director on the National Security Council, he is credited for helping to develop the "surge" strategy for Iraq in 2007, and he later negotiated the Strategic Framework Agreement that continues to guide relations between Iraq and the United States. Brett had earlier spent nearly a year in Iraq as a legal advisor during the transition to an interim Iraqi government and helped negotiate Iraq's interim constitution. Early in his career, Brett served as law clerk to Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist. He was at the Supreme Court on September 11, 2001, a day that changed history and led to his dedicating over two decades to nonpartisan service in Washington and overseas. Currently, Brett is a Global Affairs Analyst for CNN, a Distinguished Fellow at Harvard's Belfer Center and the Atlantic Council, where he advises the N7 Initiative. He is also a Venture Partner at Lux Capital and Senior Advisor for the Middle East and International Affairs at Cisco Systems, Inc. He is finally writing a book about presidential decision-making and high-stakes diplomacy to be published by Crown. Tidal Partners is an M&A strategic advisory boutique dedicated to driving long-term value creation for leading technology companies in an era of global and digital transformation.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Man Gets Lego Gift After Fighting Brain Cancer—What He Builds Shocks Wife
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. For a couple online, grand romantic gestures take focused mental work—but they are so worth it. In a TikTok video, Alli Young revealed the simple, yet elaborate, act of her husband, Brett, delivering her water bottle via a massive Lego crane—something she said truly defines their relationship. Young told Newsweek about the engineering feat that has gone viral with over 223,000 likes. "Oh, your man likes to go out and party and doesn't text you back for hours on end? That's cool, mine delivers me my water bottle via a Lego crane that he spent all weekend building," Young captioned the video, which shows the large, intricate Lego crane delivering her bottle. Photos from Alli Young's TikTok video of her husband's crane Lego invention entering the room. Photos from Alli Young's TikTok video of her husband's crane Lego invention entering the room. @allliyoung/TikTok Young, who described her husband as a "huge LEGO collector since he was a kid," shared that Brett boasts a collection of around 150,000 pieces. The specific crane featured in the video was a Father's Day gift from her. "He spent every spare second over two days building it," Young said. "He works in construction management." While Young herself admitted she has never been into Lego, she said she deeply appreciates Brett's passion: "When he builds something he's proud of, it always makes me happy to see," she added. "It's like he gets transported back to being a little kid, and it's honestly just very fun to watch." The nine-second clip, Young said, offers a glimpse into the couple's unique dynamic. "You get a good idea of who we are, which sounds dumb, but hear me out," she added, describing Brett as "very meticulous and likes things done a certain way," while she is "the more extroverted, 'out there' one." The water-bottle delivery perfectly illustrates their balance of personalities, Young said: "Me asking him to bring me my water bottle and him using the crane to do it is his fun, playful side, but then you watch him at the end looking around the corner to make sure it makes it over the rug—back to his meticulous side showing through." Inspired by the overwhelming positive response to the video, Young said that Brett has now started his own TikTok account to show off more of his Lego collection. The story behind Brett's dedication to Lego, though, goes much deeper than just a hobby. Two years ago, their lives were shaken when they found out that Brett had a brain tumor. During his recovery from a craniotomy to remove the cancer, all of his friends put money together to buy him a huge Lego set to build while he was recovering. Young said she firmly believes that "the combination of doing something he loved and doing something to physically help his brain was what helped him heal." And, today, Brett is fully recovered, cancer-free and starting to teach the couple's 2-year-old daughter how to build small Lego sets. For Young, even though she doesn't fully understand the appeal of Lego, as she concluded: "I can see how much he loves it, which makes me love it just a little bit."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Powerboat driver Brett Duncan dies after crashing into a houseboat during race near Lowestoft
A powerboat driver has died after crashing into a houseboat during a racing event near Lowestoft. The Circuit Powerboat Association (CPA) named the man as Brett Duncan, saying he was injured "during a lone racing accident" at about 6.50pm on Thursday at the Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club. In a statement posted on Facebook on Friday, the powerboat racing authority said the 51-year-old circuit powerboat racer, was "an experienced and popular member of the power boating community". The CPA said it was "shocked and saddened by Brett's untimely passing and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this tragic time". The association thanked event staff and the emergency services "for their swift and timely response to the incident" and asked that Mr Duncan's family be "given the privacy that they need to grieve". Suffolk Police said officers were called just after 7.10pm "to reports of a collision involving a powerboat and a stationary houseboat in the vicinity of Oulton Broad Water Sports Centre. Read more on Sky News:Striking doctors want the impossibleScots divided by Trump's visitHow photographers saw the Gallaghers "The East of England Ambulance Service, Coastguard and a volunteer paramedic from Suffolk Accident Rescue Service (SARS) were also on the scene but despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the driver of the powerboat - a man aged in his 50s - sadly died at the scene. "There were no other injuries as a result of the collision. "Police are working in closely with partners and other agencies in relation to the incident." This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the latest version. You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
